How to Help Patients Understand the Importance of Eye Health

Updated on July 5, 2021

As a healthcare professional, you will occasionally encounter various barriers when it comes to communicating with your patients. 

It may sometimes be the case that the advice you impart is not gladly received, and this could be for a wide range of reasons. In these instances, it is important to find a way to communicate more effectively so that you can ensure the ongoing wellbeing of your patient. 

The Importance of Eye Health

Vision is such an important aspect of a patient’s overall health. A decline in a person’s ability to see can soon impact their quality of life and put their independence at risk. 

Your patients will surely already be aware of this fact, but it is a good idea to remind them anyway so that they can take precautions. 

Correcting Vision Problems

For those people who do develop problems with their vision, there are of course ways to rectify certain issues through Memorial Eye Care.

For example, people who suffer from cataracts or poor vision can benefit from laser eye surgery, also commonly referred to as LASIK, from Eye laser Specialists. This type of surgery is available all over the US, with top quality LASIK Harrisburg services available for those who live in Pennsylvania.  

Laser eye surgery can at first appear daunting to patients who do not know much about it. As a healthcare professional, you will be able to simplify the process to explain the benefits to relevant patients. You may also find that patients come to you with questions about this kind of surgery.

Explaining Eye Health Precautions

There are a number of actions that individuals can take to protect the health of their eyes. These are actions that you should explain to patients when you feel it is necessary and beneficial. 

These actions include: 

  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Not smoking tobacco
  • Wearing sunglasses
  • Avoiding overuse of computer and phone screens
  • Getting your vision tested regularly

These are simple pieces of advice that you can share with your patients. Read on for some helpful information regarding each point. 

Healthy Diet

A healthy diet that includes ample omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and lutein, is essential for optimum eye health. It is beneficial to also include a good daily dose of vitamins C and E. 

Encouraging your patients to follow a healthy diet should always be a priority, not just for the health of their eyes. 

Tobacco

Tobacco can increase the risk of cataracts developing over time. 

Tobacco can also cause damage to the nerves in the eye and increase the rate of age-related macular degeneration. Helping your patients to stop smoking is essential for all aspects of their health. 

Sunglasses

The ultraviolet rays from the sun can be harmful to vision. 

Ultraviolet damage can be protected against by wearing high-quality sunglasses that provide a decent level of protection.

Screen Time

Spending too long staring at a computer or phone screen will cause harm to eye health over time. 

This is not always avoidable if the patient uses a screen for their job, but it is still a good idea to alert people to the dangers.

Vision Tests

Getting a regular vision test is the best way to be aware of any problems early on. 

Explain the benefits of vision testing to your patients regularly and ensure that they are booking appointments when necessary. 

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